Button-trimming machine with automatic knife-sharpener



2 Sheets-Sheet 1L (No Model.)

, A. A. EKLIPP. BUTTON TRIMMING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC KNIFE SHARPBNER.

Patented Aug. 27, 1895.

WITNESS E8 W WW (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

V A. A. EKLIFF. BUTTON TRIMMING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC KNIFE SHARPENER.

Patented Aug, 27, 1895.

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WITNESSES OWM UNTTE Status ATENT Orricn.

ANDREW A. EKLIFF, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BUTTON'TRIMFVHNG MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC KNlFE-SH'ARPENER.

$PECIIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 545,275, dated August27, 1895.

Applicatio filed October 26, 1893. Serial No. 489,224. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW A. EKLIFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented acertain new and useful linprovement in Machines for Sharpening theKnives of Peari-Button-'lrimining Machines; and I declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and usethe same, reference being, had to the accompanying drawings, which forma part of this specification.

This invention relates to button-turning machines, and has for itsobject an improvement in machines for cutting and turning pearl buttons.

In turning and trimming pearl buttons with machines using steelcutting-knives, the knife dulls very rapidly, requiring acoustautstopping of the machine to replace the dulled knife with afreshly-sharpened one, or requiring some means of sharpening the knifewithout removing it from the machine.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for sharpening theknife and giving it a fresh edge between the time it is used in trimmingone button and the time it is used in trimming another, the meansemployed in the improvement being such that between each two successiveoperations the beveled edge of the knife is drawn across the flatsurface of a rapidlyrevolvin g emery-wheel and is freshly ground by thewheel; also at the same interval the knife is advanced axially a shortdistance, so as to insure contact with the emery-wheel and theproduction of a fresh edge for cutting purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the entire button-trimming machinein perspective. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the knifeholder andthe means for advancing the knife. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detal of thebuttonholding chuck.

The button-holding chuck shown in Fig. 3 does not differ materially fromthose in common use. It consists of a supporting framework A and ahollow shaft B, on which is a cone-pulley C. lhrough the hollow shaft Bextends a rod 1), which carries at one end the jaws of a chuck E, and atthe other end is fitted with suitable levers by which it can be movedendwise through the shaft B, the lever shown in the drawings being onewhich is adapted to be connected to a foot-piece and operated by thefoot to throw the rod D through the shaft B and loosen the jaws E of thechuck, the action of the lever when the foot-power is pressed beingagainst the tension of the spring S, which tends to throw the rod D in adirection through the shaft B to close the jaws of the chuck.

Opposite to the chuck E, and moving in a line parallel with the axis ofthe rod D, is a sliding carriage F, supported between fourbearing-plates g gff. The bearing-plates g gff are supported betweenposts G G H H, by which they are held from horizontal movement in eitherdirection,but which permit of a vertical adjustment. The carriage F ispreferably square in cross-section and set with the diagonal of thesquare in a vertical line, and it supports at its inner end-the endtoward the chuck E-a knife-frame K.

Between the posts G H, surrounding the bar F, which forms theknife-carriage, is a spring T, that bears against the post G and againsta pin t in the bar F. The tension of the spring T tends to throw thecarriage and the knife away from the chuck E, and is arranged to holdthe carriage F and the kuife-frame K against the power applied to it bymeans of the push-lever L and hand-lever L. Vhen no force is applied tothe hand-lever L the carriage F and knife-frame K move outward awayfromthe chuck E until the knife-frame K is stopped by striking thesupporting-post G.

To the supporting -post G is secured a bracket in which is journaled avertical spindle M, on the lower end of which is a grind lug-wheel N.The spindleM is given a rapid rotary motion by a driving-belt thatpasses around the pulley m. The under surface of this wheel N is flat,or preferably fiat at the rim and with a sunken center. It is so hungthat its flat lower surface is in or nearly in a plane that passesthrough the center of the chuck E.

The knife-frame K is a block of metal and has a passage-way through itvertically for the knife k. The passage-way is oblique to the axis ofthe carriage F and the axis of the chuck E, the amount of obliquitybeing determined by the amount of clearance it is desired to give to theknife-edge. The knifeframe supports a screw 1) which has the sameobliquity that the knife is intended to have. The screw 1) is supportedat its upper and 5 lower ends in suitable bearings in which it can turnfreely, and upon the screw is a runner or nut 0, provided with a slotthrough which the lower end of the knife 70 is passed. The knife 70 issecured in the slot of the runto ner-nut c by a set-screw cl, whichholds it tightly to the nut. The upper end of the knife 70 is heldloosely in the hole or passage through the knife-frame K by a screw 2and a block or cotter e. The screw 6 is not in- 15 tended to be turneddown tightly against the knife, but only sufficiently to properly guidethe knife without preventing its free motion due to the motion of therunner nut 0 when the screw revolves in it.

On the lower end of the screw his a pinion 1, which meshes with and isdriven by a wormscrew 2. The worm-screw 2 is journaled in theknife-holder K,'and has as the drivingwheel by which motion is given toit a ratchet 25 wheel 3. On the shaft of the ratchet-wheel 3 is hung apawl-lever 4, the upper end of which is held by a spring 5 in itsforward position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) To the lower end of theratchet-lever 4 is pivoted a pawl 6 and the 0 pawl 6 is held inengagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 8 by a spring 7. The endof the lever 4 engages with the main frame work or post G or a suitablestop connected therewith just before the outward motion of 5 thecarriage is stopped by the engagement between the knife-frame K and theframe G. The slight backward movement of the carriage after the end S ofthe ratchet engages with its proper stop, and before the carriage 4c isfinally stopped, moves the lever 4, the pawl 6, and feeds theratchet-wheel forward one or two notches according to the adjustmentthat has been made of the stop 9. The forward .motion that has beengained is held by the 5 pawl 10, which the feeding-paw16 returns underthe tension of the spring 5, when the carriage is again advanced towardthe chuck E. At each forward-and-back movement the upper beveled end ofthe knife 10 passes across 50 the grinding-surface of the wheel N and ateach backward movement of the carriage the knife is advanced a veryslight distance to permit of its receiving a fresh edge. The two screwsthat are used in feedingthe knife forward make the feed very slow, butvery absolute.

The knife may be of any one of several forms best adapted to produce theformation of button that is desired, as the form of grinding-wheel andthe way of feeding the knife to the grinding-wheel enables me to sharpena convex or concave or irregular knife with equal facility.

What I claim is- 1. In a lathe for trimming pearl buttons, the Icombination of aknife holding frame adapted to move axially toward andaway from the button holding chuck of said machine, a knife feedingscrew placed obliquely with respect to the path of travel of said frame,a ratchet wheel and intermediate gearing whereby said ratchet wheel isadapted to rotate said screw, and a ratchet driving pawl adapted tocoact with a fixed part of the frame-work and drive said ratchet wheel,substantially as described.

2. In a lathe for trimming pearl buttons, the knife frame K, adapted tobe carried by the horizontally moving carriage F, the knife feedingscrew 17, having its ends journaled in said frame, the nut 0, adapted toengage the feeding screw, the knife 70, adjustably held at one end bymeans of the nut whereby it is compelled to move with said nut andhaving 'its opposite end guided by means of an opening through theframe, the pinion e, mounted on the screw, the Worm screw 2,journaled inthe frame and adapted to engage said pinion, the ratchet wheel 3,secured to one end of said.

ANDW. A. EKLIFF. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES F. BURTON, MARION A. RnEvE.

